The fight to keep internet radio alive...

[Myz_Lilith]

Have seen this pop up in a few places today... am going to copy and paste here to make sure I don't phrase it wrong.

From the Pandora blog:

After a yearlong negotiation, Pandora, artists and record companies are finally optimistic about reaching an agreement on royalties that would save Pandora and Internet radio. But just as we've gotten close, large traditional broadcast radio companies have launched a covert lobbying campaign to sabotage our progress.

Yesterday, Congressman Jay Inslee, and several co-sponsors, introduced legislation to give us the extra time we need but the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), which represents radio broadcasters such as Clear Channel, has begun intensively pressuring lawmakers to kill the bill. We have just a day or two to keep this from collapsing.

This is a blatant attempt by large radio companies to suffocate the webcasting industry that is just beginning to offer an alternative to their monopoly of the airwaves.

Please call your Congressperson right now and ask them to support H.R. 7084, the Webcaster Settlement Act of 2008 - and to not capitulate to pressure from the NAB. Congress is currently working extended hours, so even calls this evening and over the weekend should get answered.

The central congressional switchboard number is: (202) 225 3121

Or to look up your representative, visit: https://forms.house.gov/wyr/welcome.shtml

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(That last link apparently also cotains a contact form so you don't even have to phone.)

I am no expert, so not sure how this fits in with the ongoing battle for a fair royalty scheme for internet broadcasters, but this sounds important to me... so thought those of you in the US with a Congressperson to call might want to see it!

Edit: For more background on the ongoing threat to internet radio stations such as GSP, it's all in the news threads here:
http://www.gridstream.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=10867

[Samalicious]

Oh my...you've helped me find something else I can get passionate about

Definitely looking further into this.